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Sunday, 31 July 2016

Three people test positive for Zika virus in Huddersfield and Calderdale

Three people test positive for Zika virus in Huddersfield and Calderdale
Huddersfield Royal Infirmary, Acre Street, Lindley, Huddersfield.

Three people test positive for Zika virus in Huddersfield and Calderdale

Patients returned home from foreign trips with virus which can harm unborn babies

Three people have tested positive for the Zika virus at local hospitals after returning to West Yorkshire from foreign trips.

The three were being treated by the NHS trust which runs Huddersfield Royal Infirmary and Calderdale Royal Hospital in Halifax when tests revealed they were carrying the virus, which can harm unborn babies.

Details of the cases were published in an infection control report to the board of the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Trust which met this week.

The report said: “Three patients have tested positive for Zika virus following return from foreign travel.”

Health bosses have not revealed the age of the patients or their gender.

Dr Gavin Boyd, infection control lead at Calderdale and Huddersfield hospitals, said: “There is no specific treatment for Zika and it usually wears off naturally after two to seven days.

“After a diagnosis patients are cared for by their GPs if needed.

“There is extremely low risk of contracting Zika virus in the UK as the mosquito that transmits the infection is not present in the UK however it can be transmitted between humans by sexual contact.”

A total of 53 people have now been treated in the United Kingdom for the infection.

The virus has been linked to defects in newborn babies including microcephaly which causes babies to have small heads and developmental problems.